By George                                             H.B. No. 2803
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a state initiative encouraging the development of
 1-3     research in biotechnology and biogenetics.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subtitle H, Education Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Chapter 151 to read as follows:
 1-7      CHAPTER 151.  BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOGENETICS RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
 1-8           Sec. 151.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
 1-9                 (1)  "Biotechnology and biogenetics research" means
1-10     research the primary object of which is to gain a fuller
1-11     fundamental knowledge of biotechnology and biogenetics and
1-12     application of such knowledge to the public good.
1-13                 (2)  "Coordinating board" has the meaning assigned by
1-14     Section 61.003 of this code.
1-15                 (3)  "Eligible institution" means a "medical or dental
1-16     unit" as that term is defined by Section 61.003 of this code.
1-17                 (4)  "Eligible program" means a specific research
1-18     project, or a research incubator, county research and development
1-19     project, or other initiative that provides infrastructure support
1-20     for one or more research projects in biotechnology and biogenetic
1-21     research at an eligible institution.
 2-1                 (5)  "Faculty member" means a person who is tenured or
 2-2     is in a tenure track position or a research professional employed
 2-3     by an eligible institution.
 2-4                 (6)  "Initiative" means the biotechnology and
 2-5     biogenetics research initiative developed under this chapter.
 2-6           Sec.  151.002.  PURPOSE.  The biotechnology and biogenetics
 2-7     research initiative is established to encourage and provide support
 2-8     for basic research conducted by faculty members in biotechnology,
 2-9     biogenetics and directly related disciplines at eligible
2-10     institutions.
2-11           Sec. 151.003.  ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES.
2-12     (a)  The coordinating board shall administer the initiative.
2-13           (b)  The coordinating board shall utilize an advisory
2-14     committee, a majority of which consists of experts in biotechnology
2-15     and biogenetics research, to advise the board regarding the board's
2-16     development of research priorities, guidelines, and procedures to
2-17     be used in selecting eligible programs.
2-18           (c)  The guidelines and procedures developed by the
2-19     coordinating board must provide for awards to be made to eligible
2-20     projects based on:
2-21                 (1)  competitive, peer review analysis;
2-22                 (2)  amount of past biotechnology and biogenetics
2-23     research conducted by an eligible institution that has been funded
2-24     by federal and private grants, contracts, gifts and endowments; and
2-25                 (3)  the provision of matching funds for the award that
 3-1     will be made by any private source or a local government.
 3-2           Sec. 151.004.  FUNDING.  (a)  The initiative is funded by
 3-3     appropriations and by gifts, grants, and donations made for that
 3-4     purpose.
 3-5           (b)  From funds appropriated for the initiative, the
 3-6     comptroller of public accounts shall issue warrants to each
 3-7     eligible institution in the amount certified by the coordinating
 3-8     board to the comptroller.
 3-9           (c)  The funds appropriated for the initiative may be
3-10     expended to support the eligible program for which an award is made
3-11     and may not be expended for the general support of ongoing research
3-12     at an eligible institution or for the construction or remodeling of
3-13     a facility.
3-14           Sec. 151.005.  PROJECT REVIEW.  (a)  The coordinating board
3-15     shall utilize an advisory committee in administering the fund, a
3-16     majority of which must be experts in biotechnology and biogenetics
3-17     research.
3-18           (b)  The advisory committee shall consist of nine members,
3-19     with three members to be selected by the governor, three by the
3-20     lieutenant governor and three by the speaker.
3-21           (c)  The advisory committee shall evaluate the initiative's
3-22     effectiveness and report its findings to the coordinating board and
3-23     legislature not later than September 1 of each year.  The advisory
3-24     committee shall include in its report any recommendations that it
3-25     has concerning funding allocations and proposals for future
 4-1     funding.
 4-2           SECTION 2.  Section 382.002, Local Government Code, is
 4-3     amended to read as follows:
 4-4           Sec. 382.002.  Purpose.  The primary purpose of this chapter
 4-5     is to create county research and development authorities to promote
 4-6     scientific research and development and commercialization of
 4-7     research in affiliation with public and private institutions of
 4-8     research, higher education, or health science centers.  Research to
 4-9     be promoted, developed, and commercialized includes research in
4-10     recycling processes and recyclable materials and biotechnology and
4-11     biogenetics.
4-12           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
4-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-16     days be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.